Byrge, 18, escapes from jail
A local teen wanted on misdemeanor charges escaped from authorities twice Friday and remains at-large after fleeing Warren County Jail.
The escapee, Jeffery J. Byrge, 18, will face charges of misdemeanor escape when he is re-captured. It’s an offense which carries up to one year in jail.
According to Sheriff Jackie Matheny, Byrge was in the process of being booked at the jail when he bolted through the back door after an employee exited. Byrge then outran pursuing officers, eluding capture and disappearing into a nearby wooded area. The booking area is located in the front of the jail and has generally been the point of escape attempts in the past since the door near the booking room is used as an entrance and exit for jail employees.
“There’s no excuse for what happened,” Matheny said. “I’m ashamed of it.”
Matheny said a computer system crash had delayed Byrge’s booking, leaving him sitting in the booking area for a significant time. Matheny said Byrge had just requested permission to get up and go to the bathroom when he made his dash.
His escape came after he had been subdued while trying to evade arrest at the Civic Center earlier in the day. According to city police reports, Byrge was taken into custody inside the Civic Center. He was wanted on violation of probation warrants.
However, upon being led outside the door, Byrge ran away from officers, prompting a foot chase through the parking lot. He was caught and taken to jail from where he later escaped.
Matheny said Byrge is not considered dangerous and questioned why the teen would risk a significant escape sentence when he was looking at a relatively short stay at the jail.
In a related note, a friend of Byrge’s has been arrested for facilitation of escape. Jason Dacey, 22, faces the charge after he reportedly admitted he knew Byrge’s whereabouts but refused to tell officers. Dacey allegedly said he took the escapee somewhere following the escape. Byrge’s rain-soaked clothes were reportedly found inside Dacey’s vehicle.
Anyone having information on Byrge’s whereabouts is asked to contact officers at 473-8032.